:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/31451065/483669537.0.jpg)
Winning Pitcher: Marco Estrada
Losing Pitcher: Cliff Lee
The first inning was pretty clear sailing for both teams. Cliff Lee allowed a single to Ryan Braun but that was it. Marco Estrada one up'd him retiring the Phillies in order, including one strikeout. Rickie Weeks had a nice play backing up Mark Reynolds who had a ball squeak under his glove.
Lee followed up his first inning by striking out the side. That ended what had been a 22 inning hitting streak. Unfortunately Estrada did not respond in like. He gave up a home run, as he is wont to do, to Marlon Byrd. That would be the only hit though.
Byrd tried to make up for it by misplaying a flyball from Gomez allowing him to reach third base. However it was for naught as there were two outs already and Jean Segura was unable to drive Gomez in on a grounder to second. Estrada returned to the mound in strong fashion by getting two strikeouts and comebacker to the mound for the third out.
Ryan Braun led off the 4th inning with his second single of the game. Ramirez quickly followed up with a double that would see Braun score from first to tie the game. Jonathan Lucroy would ground out, but in doing so advanced Ramirez to third. Khris Davis was able to squeak a grounder through the left side of the infield for an RBI single. That was it for the inning, but the Brewers took the a 2-1 lead. Estrada gave up a lead off single to Jimmy Rollins, but he was caught stealing. He followed that with two more ground outs.
In the fifth inning Carlos Gomez was thrown out at second trying to stretch a base hit into a double. It was a close play but yet again, Ron Roenicke shows he won't replay anything unless it's obvious. It's a frustrating strategy, especially in a close game against a pitcher as good as Cliff Lee. You think he'd want to use every advantage at his disposal to even the odds given the chance. Thankfully Marco Estrada would return allowing only one base hit for another scoreless inning.
WIth two outs in the 6th inning, Jonathan Lucroy hit a double and Khris drove him in with a double of his own to extend the Brewers lead to 3-1. The Phillies threatened in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, Jimmy Rollins drew a walk and advanced to third on a base hit by Chase Utley. Ryan Howard would then draw a walk to load the bases for Marlon Byrd who would get an RBI on a grounder to third base to cut the Brewers lead to 3-2. With the bases still loaded and two outs Domonic Brown hit a lazy fly to center to end the inning.
Jeff Manship replaced Cliff Lee in the 7th. Rickie Weeks led off with a single. Logan Schafer came in to pinch hit for Marco Estrada. Roenicke had him lay down a bunt which was fielded by the catcher Carlos Ruiz who threw to second. The umpire ruled that the throw pulled the second baseman off the bag and everyone was safe. Carlos Gomez immediately singled in Weeks. Schafer also advanced to third base. Manship, who until this point had not given up a run, would exit the game. Jake Diekman took the mound. Segura greeted him with a bloop single scoring Schafer. Gomez with heads up base running was able to get to third. With runners at the corners Ryan Braun hit a sac-fly bringing the Brewers' lead to 6-2. Ramirez struck out and Segura got picked off to end the inning.
In a move that I found equal parts surprising and encouraging, Ron Roenicke went with Tyler Thornburg (who pitched 2 innings in yesterday's game) in the 7th. He responded by striking out the first two batters and getting the third out on an easy pop-up. It was seriously impressive.
Jonathan Lucroy reached on an error and Mark Reynolds drew a walk but that was it in the Brewers half of the 8th inning. Utilizing a double switch, Will Smith took the mound and Scooter Gennett replaced Weeks at second base. Smith got a strikeout and a ground out but gave up a base hit to Chase Utley and walked Ryan Howard. Byrd came to the plate with runners at 1st and 2nd. Smith struck him out.
The Brewers batters would go quietly in the top of the 9th, but so would the Phillies. Having not pitched since Saturday, Francisco Rodriguez took the mound and retired them in order to secure the win.
The Brewers complete the road trip sweep to advance to a 7-2 record! Tomorrow they're back in Milwaukee to take on division rivals Pittsburgh Pirates. It'll be Wily Peralta facing off against Francisco Liriano. Start time is 7:10 pm CT.
